The Cal rugby team has won 23 of the last 28 collegiate national championships, including the last four. But could this be the year that the Bears win it all with a perfect record? As in, without losing a match the entire season?

In its recent string of four national titles, Cal has had at least one loss each season.

In 2004, the Bears lost three times — twice to British Columbia, and once to Cal Poly while the starters rested for the postseason.

In 2005, they lost by three in the second of two matches against the Thunderbirds.

In 2006, same thing. They lost on the road against British Columbia. Playing in Vancouver, Canada sure gives Cal trouble.

In 2007, the Bears fell to the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, the 2006 Rugby Super League champion. You could argue that the loss shouldn’t count against them because they weren’t facing a college side. But playing against professionals doesn’t give a team like Cal any excuses.

This season, the Bears won the rematch against the OMBAC, they beat the Thunderbirds in Berkeley by a score of 35-17, and they seem well on their way to a zero in the loss column.

The only match that really stands in the way of Cal’s perfect season is the second half of the World Cup Series against British Columbia on March 26 in Vancouver.

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